Album: Rick Ross – Port Of Miami
Submitted by Hazard on Fri, 2006-12-08 04:34. Keywords:
Album Reviewed by Hazard
| To some Rick Ross may appear to be one in a group of many Dirty South bandwagon jumpers. However, Ross had been making moves for many years alongside fellow Miami, Florida native Trick Daddy on Slip N Slide Records. On Port Of Miami it is obvious that Ross has something to prove as he is unleashed upon the world via his Def Jam debut. Like many of his counterparts Ross has a knack for crafting catchy hooks and catchphrases that stick with listeners for days after hearing them. |
At first listen Ross is obviously not a double-time emcee sounding a lot more comfortable over the slower melodic grooves provided mostly by talented production duo Cool & Dre. Check out the mesmerizing track, Push It, which samples the 80’s montage anthem Push It (To The Limit) from the Scarface soundtrack, and the synth-heavy Blow, which features the vocal talents of Dre on the hook.
Luckily some variation is provided through the introspective tones of tracks like the soul-drenched Pots & Pans and the mellow grooves of Get Away, which show a different side of Ross, but still don’t stray far from his formula.
Unfortunately though, rhyming MySpace with my face and fire place in a lazy flow and constantly referring to yourself about a million times (Ross, or as it’s pronounced “Rauuuss” and Boss or “Bauuus”) is not what classic albums are made of. Another criticism of Ross and rappers of his ilk is the constant mentioning of selling, buying and making drugs, which many see as glorification (also see the conspiracy theory about the CIA using rappers to sell and market drugs to the Black community).
While it’s far from the worst album to come out during the South’s explosion, it’s hardly the most noteworthy, if Ross could use the skills he displayed on the best tracks while avoiding a few clichés and repetitive delivery and subject matter, he could do something a lot better. Still worth having a look if you want some party music, but not if you want substance.
Available Through Def Jam Records
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